Neighbours | Exercise With Summary | Grade 12 | English
0Summary of "Neighbours" by Tim Winton:
"Neighbours" by Tim Winton explores the experiences of a young couple in a new neighborhood, highlighting themes of community, cultural differences, and unexpected connections among neighbors. The narrative unfolds as the couple faces linguistic barriers, ultimately finding warmth and acceptance from their neighbors, especially during significant life events such as pregnancy.
Understanding the Text:
a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.
The description of the young couple's house is not provided in the questions.
b. How did the young couple identify their neighbours in the beginning of their arrival?
The young couple identified their neighbors through welcoming gestures and attempts at communication, such as the older woman offering a plate of food and the man giving a thumbs-up.
c. How did the neighbours help the young couple in the kitchen garden?
The neighbors helped the young couple in the kitchen garden by gifting them seeds and offering guidance on planting. They also provided practical assistance by watering the plants when the couple was away.
d. Why were the people in the neighborhood surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their family?
The people in the neighborhood were surprised at the young man and his wife's roles in the family because he took on household responsibilities traditionally associated with women.
e. How did the neighbours respond to the woman’s pregnancy?
The neighbors responded positively to the woman's pregnancy, expressing joy and support by bringing gifts and participating in the celebration.
f. Why did the young man begin to weep at the end of the story?
The young man began to weep at the end of the story, possibly overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance of his neighbors.
g. Why do you think the author did not characterize the persons in the story with proper names?
The author may not have characterized the persons in the story with proper names to emphasize universal themes and make the characters representative of broader human experiences.
Reference to the Context:
a. The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacle in human relationship. Cite some examples from the story where the neighbours have transcended such barriers.
Examples of transcending linguistic and cultural barriers include non-verbal communication and gestures used by the neighbors to welcome the young couple.
b. The last sentence of the story reads “The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for this.” In your view, what differences did the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human relations?
The young man found differences between twentieth-century novels and human relations in the unexpected warmth and support he received from his neighbors, contrasting with potentially isolating novelistic portrayals.
c. A Nepali proverb says “Neighbors are companions for wedding procession as well as for funeral procession.” Does this proverb apply in the story? Justify.
The Nepali proverb applies in the story, as the neighbors stand by the young couple in both joyous and challenging moments.
d. The author has dealt with an issue of multiculturalism in the story. Why do you think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world?
Multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world due to increased globalization, migration, and the need for understanding and coexistence among diverse communities.
Reference beyond the text:
a. Write an essay on Celebration of Childbirth in my Community.
To write an essay on the celebration of childbirth in your community, you would need to draw from personal knowledge and experiences related to childbirth customs, rituals, and celebrations.
b. Do the people in your community respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story? Give a couple of examples.
To answer whether people in your community respond similarly to pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story, you would need to provide examples based on observations and interactions in your community.